Wichita eagle., 1887-09-23
+: THE AlSLES OF TRINITY.
Suits to Secure the Church's Possessions.
The Corporations Wealth-Graves.


Every known form OF legal contest has
been put in effect against Trinity for 200
years, and Trinity has always been the
victor. The city and state Of New York,
as well as individuals, have waged war to
secure its fabulous possessions. Hundreds
of thousands Of dollars have been expended
to gain its millions. Battles Of muscle
and engagements where firearms have
been used, form no little part of its his
tory. Before and since the Revolution
these disturbances and tragedies were
common. Strife, terror, desperate effort,
blasted hopes, all darken those old days.
'sThe original Dutch against the English
crown sycophants," were forever at war
over the coveted treasure; and no ecclesi-
astical relic extant has sostirred the hearts
and pockets of men. No martyrs were
burned, but the reliable historians OF those
dim times have left at least two monstrous
acts of injustice to fire the poetic heart.
In 1775 'an old woman was kicked in tho
eye and her husband wounded" The
heartless church property protectors also
''took hold of Hannah Marsh, about 63
years old, pulled her down on her knees
and attempted to put her head in q pail Of
grog." One wonders just how the grog
happened to be 80 handy on sacred ground,
but we must take history as we get it.
Trinity church authorities will not re-
veal the actual wealth of the corporation.
Men who should judge viii estimate it to
be from $50, 000 900 to S200,000,000. No
land is given away or sold; nor are long
leases made; and the annual revenues are
acknowledged to be upwards of $500, GOO.
Its educational and charitable Institutions
are many. The parish contains seven
churches and the Same number OF schools;
large sums are turned over to the Episco-
pal and diocesan funds; allowances are
made to several missions; Trinity hospital
is maintained; St Luke S hospital receives
a large annuity; and from twenty to thirty
churches outside of New York city are
assisted. As n corporation it will stand
through the years as stupendous Illus
tration of ''unearned increment" OF
colossal wealth devoted almost exclusively
to the Upbuilding OF an ecclesiastical
aristocracy, and of the wondrous posi-
bilities of interminable litigation.
y strange, sweet seizure viii possess
you as you wander about the solemn aisles
of Trinity, and the pictures of the saints;
the grand somber arches half lighted with
q mellow richness which dreamily touches
them from the flowing tracery of the
unique and highly colored windows; the
mighty organ with its gilded tubes; the
pulpit canopy like lowering wing; all fill
you with n something that may be indie
Unable pleasure, that may be realized
sacred sympathy and relationship; but let
these emotions possess you rs they may,
and, If you are imaginative, let your fancy
conjure whatever it will, the strangest
day dreaming and the most solemn asso-
citation OF. thought are found within the
other shadows that fit among the graves.
The ground upon either side and in the
rear is literally choked with them; and, it
is said, q spade cannot be inserted without
disturbing the ashes Of some unrecorded
one, while the crumbling headstones still
standing in sickly defiance of the CEN
turies, jostlo each other in a cruel way, as
if grudgiDgly guarding their insecure por-
tons. Philadelphia Times.